Heavy metal ion uptake by homo and copolymers— A comparative study

Abstract

Homo and copolymers of 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate and chloromethylated styrene-anthranilic acid have been prepared by free radical polymerization technique. The chelating polymers have been characterized by IR and solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. Thermal stabilities of these polymers are investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. Heavy metal ions viz. , Pb(II ), Hg(II ), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) have been removed by employing the present chelating polymers. Metal ion uptake efficiency, effect of <i>p</i>H and time on the metal removal have also been studied. The metal removal properties are also tested under competitive conditions and found to depend strongly on <i>p</i>H. The polymers possess appreciable selectivity for Pb(II) and Hg(II ) over Cd(II) and Cr(VI). The amount of metal uptake by the

polymer has been determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The polymers have been reused after desorbing the metal ion from the polymer metal complex by HCl.